What's this plant?: Do you recognize these basal leaves?

Replies: 28 Views: 415

Author	Comment
Sneirish Swansea, MA (Zone 6b) October 31, 2009 10:26 PM	I have several of these growing in one garden bed area, full sun. I have only noticed them over the past couple of weeks, and we have already had frost here. I don't recognize them as anything I have planted here, but I don't see them in any of my several other garden beds around the yard. I have no idea if they flower - this is all I have. The leaves seem to be quite prettily veined. View Larger
Malus2006 Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) November 01, 2009 07:49 PM	clearly they are something that rhizome like crazy and is perennial.
HelloMissMary Memphis, TN November 02, 2009 11:18 PM	I really hope someone comes along with an ID on this one. It looks so familiar to me, but I don't know where I might have seen it......
Riverland Northeast, LA (Zone 8a) November 02, 2009 11:44 PM	could it be some species of Clerodendrum?
HelloMissMary Memphis, TN November 03, 2009 12:11 AM	I googled Clerodendrum and looked through a variety of plant pictures, but didn't see any kind of match. Was there one in particular that this reminded you of? I believe the leaves on the plant in the picture above may be a bit leathery and the veins are quite pronounced, but I'm not the one with the plant -- it just looks so familiar to me.... Update to this message - I was incorrect about the leaf texture and thickness. See the submitter's picture and description of leaves in this thread Nov. 5. This message was edited Nov 5, 2009 8:50 AM
growin Vancouver, BC (Zone 8b) November 03, 2009 12:15 AM	Does this one look simular? http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1038797/
HelloMissMary Memphis, TN November 03, 2009 01:04 AM	Let's see what Sneirish thinks, comparing the actual plant to the pictures.
Sneirish Swansea, MA (Zone 6b) November 03, 2009 07:02 PM	Hmmm... Sorry, it really doesn't really look like the Pachysandra pictures to me. I googled and looked at a lot of them. Here is another picture from farther out of several plants. It does look a bit familiar to me also, but I can't put my finger on it. It just seems weird that they would be coming up now and hadn't been there all summer. I have weeded and mulched this bed several times so I would have noticed them. I might did one up this weekend and take a look at the root system. View Larger
Malus2006 Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) November 03, 2009 07:20 PM	What is the cut plants to the NE of the picture?
growin Vancouver, BC (Zone 8b) November 03, 2009 07:24 PM	I think they ended up ID'ing that one as Pyrola americana, not the Pachysandra I suggested.
Sneirish Swansea, MA (Zone 6b) November 04, 2009 09:17 AM	In this second picture, at 12 o'clock is a Canna; at 5 o'clock is Campanula; at 9 o'clock is perennial antirrhinum. There is also some Physostegia (which are the cut back stalks at 1 o'clock), Rudbeckia and Heliopsis in this bed, none of which look like this. I considered Viola which is also nearby, but I don't think so. My guess is some kind of bird planted wild thing, but I'd still like to know what it might be. Thanks for all your input so far. This message was edited Nov 4, 2009 8:22 AM
HelloMissMary Memphis, TN November 04, 2009 12:52 PM	Sneirish, am I right that the leaves are thick, almost leathery?
Sneirish Swansea, MA (Zone 6b) November 05, 2009 08:16 AM	MissMary, no, sorry. The leaves are not really thick at all, and definitely not leathery. Texture is medium, smooth with prominent veins. Not very thick, supple rather than brittle. Here is a photo close up of the leaf, approximately 1 inch in length, one of the oldest and longest leaves at the base. Since it was drizzling when I went out to get the leaf this morning, that is all I got. I will try digging one tomorrow to see the roots. View Larger
HelloMissMary Memphis, TN November 05, 2009 10:48 AM	I do hope that leaf photo helps with the ID. I still think I've seen this plant somewhere before and am as interested in solving the mystery as you! I will edit my above posts which describe the leaves incorrectly, so that doesn't throw anyone off.
Sofi Colts Neck, NJ (Zone 7a) November 05, 2009 05:17 PM	I agree with Growin, it looks very much like the Pyrola americana from the linked thread. The veining in the leaves is unusual, and hard to see in some photos, but clear in this diagram. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PYAM&photoID=pyam... If that is what you have then I am jealous, it is a beautiful wildflower.
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) November 05, 2009 06:14 PM	Hey Sneirish, look at this link... Pyrola picta, whiteveined wintergreen http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PYPI2
Sneirish Swansea, MA (Zone 6b) November 05, 2009 09:47 PM	I think we might be getting closer with the Pyrola genus. I have attached a comparison photo of P. picta on the left and my original photo on the right. What do you think? Other Pyrola have rounded leaves and the veins are not so pronounced or are much more pronounced. The problem with P. picta is that it does not grow in New England, but is found in the western part of the US and Canada. I'll be searching and looking through more Pyrola photos. Any more ideas? View Larger
Malus2006 Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) November 06, 2009 07:08 AM	again look at the base of the leafs - Pyrola doesn't match this picture - also Pyrola doesn't just pop up in a garden patch they tend to be picky about their surrounding. The previous answer were for a wild patch, not a garden.
Sneirish Swansea, MA (Zone 6b) November 06, 2009 07:51 AM	Malus2006, thanks. I wasn't feeling all that comfortable with Pyrola - that's why I posted the comparison pic and didn't say this was solved yet. Somehow, the veining pattern on the leaf should be a clue to me, but I haven't been able to find a match.
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) November 06, 2009 09:59 AM	Sneirish, I agree that there are differences between your plant and the pyrola....the link was for further comparison only, as that was the closest match of a pyrola to your plant. You could e-mail your pictures to UMass ag dept or Mass cooperative extension for help. I feel that this will be a head-slapper when ID'ed.....it just looks so familiar....right on the tip of my brain....grin
HelloMissMary Memphis, TN November 06, 2009 12:30 PM	Well, I'll be waiting here on the doorstep with everyone else when you do get an ID -- perhaps UMass could indeed help. Our UT extension here was very helpful to me. Whatever you do, please let us know what you find out!
Sneirish Swansea, MA (Zone 6b) November 07, 2009 08:35 PM	I sent an email to UMass extension and it was returned. So I'm looking for another place to send it. In the meantime, here is a photo of the root system. It was tough and extensive. So, I dug and pulled out as much as I could today. I got a lot, but I am sure there are lots more roots down there. It had travelled over a 4 square foot area and there were little ones coming up all over. View Larger
HelloMissMary Memphis, TN November 07, 2009 09:38 PM	Gee, I hope it's something good......
Sneirish Swansea, MA (Zone 6b) November 10, 2009 09:56 PM	Hi all, Here is the response I got by email today from URI Extension Master Gardener E-mail Hotline (Univ. Rhode Island). Hi Sue, We have not been successful in searching our sources for weeds so are thinking this could be a perennial that has done some spreading. The roots look like rhizomes and have been growing for more that just 3 weeks.Do you have some wild or perennial aster nearby or possibly some primrose? It is difficult to be sure without the blossom. You might want to leave 1 or 2 in the ground and mark them so you can see what it does .It might be something you would want. When you pull them out do they come up in a cluster?Get back to us if you have any more questions or information. ~~ So... I do have wild aster and perennial aster, also have Primula and Oenothera. None of them look like this, and those plants that I do have are not in this bed or in the immediate vicinity to allow for spreading rhizones. Does this info ring any bells for anyone?
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) November 10, 2009 10:40 PM	Hey, Sue, are ya willing to move it to a pot, or fence one off in the ground and see how it weathers the winter? At the worst, we could all chip in for Round-up if it proves to be evil....grin
Sneirish Swansea, MA (Zone 6b) November 11, 2009 03:14 PM	I did leave one small one in the ground. Now I guess we are all just curious to see what the mystery guest is. Unfortunately we are all probably going to have to wait until spring to find out. ::pout::
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) November 11, 2009 03:30 PM	Just another little puzzle to ponder over winter, Sue. Just think, you have the opportunity to be puzzled all over again come spring....lol ...I have been known to question plants in my garden, also.....literally, I will ask plants who they are and where they are from and then I found Dave's.....garden is quieter and I have a plant community to help figure them out.. Have fun waiting.....Moon
Mr_Canthus Billingshurst United Kingdom November 11, 2009 07:47 PM	I love this thread. Its gonna be geat to find out what this plant is. It seems so familiar and yet so mysterious.
HelloMissMary Memphis, TN November 11, 2009 08:20 PM	Amen to that -- !

You cannot post until you register and login.

Other What's this plant? Threads you might be interested in:

Subject	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Unknown Alien Tree in Hawai'i.	Metrosideros	27	Nov 22, 2009 5:40 PM
in australia - shrub vanilla scented small white flower - id	momomo	5	Nov 22, 2009 5:38 PM

Other Forums you might be interested in:

Flowers

Gardening Questions

Houseplants

Landscaping

Vegetables

What's This Plant?